Pipe benders



Oct. 3, 1967 R. F. VAN ALLEN 3,344,635

PIPE BENDERS Filed April 28. 1964 2 SheetsSheet l IzzJvna r'- RichHrdE-Kan di/erz. $0

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1967 R. F. VAN ALLEN 3,344,635

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United States Patent 3,344,635 PIPE BENDERS Richard F. Van Allen, Loves Park, Ill., assignor to Greenlee Bros. & Co., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 363,116 7 Claims. (Cl. 72-34) This invention relates to a bending machine for pipes and conduits and more particularly to a portable, hydraulically actuated bender.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a portable pipe bender of new and improved construction.

Other objects are to provide such a bender having a frame consisting of a pair of parallel plates to one of which a ram supporting post and a pair of pipe supporting members are secured in triangular relationship, the other plate having a detachable connection to the pipe supporting members and a loose, swingable connection to the ram post, to permit of opening and closing the frame for pipe loading and unloading purposes; to provide such a bender with a ram swinga-ble from an extending operative position to a folded inoperative position between the plates; and to provide such a bender with indicating devices associated with the pipe supporting members for indicating the angle of the bend produced in a pipe.

Other objects will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2a is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2b is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an end view looking upwardly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary section along the line 3a-3a of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 4 is a plan view after the completion of a pipe bending operation and showing the top plate of the frame in its open position.

As shown in the drawings, the invention in its preferred form has a frame consisting of a first generally triangular plate 10, a ram post 11 having a reduced portion 12 rotatably supported in a bore 13 at one corner 14 thereof in a position perpendicular thereto, a pair of pins 15 and 16 spaced equally from the ram post 11 and having reduced portions 17 secured to the plate in bores 19 at the other corners 21 and 22 thereof, and a generally triangular top plate 23. The ram post 11 is secured in place by a washer 24 and cap screw 25. The pins and 16 are secured in place by washers 26 and 27 and nuts 28.

As shown best in FIG. 2, a ram 29 has a cylinder member 30 and a plunger 31, the cylinder member having its open end extending through a bore 32 in the ram post 11 and being screw threaded therein. An inner set screw 33 is adapted to engage the cylinder member 36) to anchor it in the ram post against rotation. A bending shoe 34 is carried on the projecting end 35 of the plunger 31.

To cooperate with the shoe 34 in a pipe bending operation, pipe support members 36 and 37 are rotatably supported, respectively, on the pins 15 and 16. These support members have relatively fiat faces 36 and 37' with arcuate grooves 38 extendnig across the faces to receive and support a pipe to be bent.

To facilitate loading pipes into the bender and unloading them therefrom, the top plate 23 of the frame and, more particularly, the corners 41 and 42 thereof are detachably secured to the adjacent ends of the pins 15 and 16, and the corner 43 of the plate is loosely connected 3,344,635 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 "ice to and swingable and rotatable on the ram post 11. As shown best in FIG. 2, the top plate 23 has a bore 44 in the corner 41 into which a bushing 45 is pressed. The bore 46 in the bushing 45 and a Corresponding bushing in the corner 42 of the plate 23 are sufiiciently large to permit the plate to be swung on the ram post 11, from the full line position to the dot-dash line position in FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG. 2a.

Locking devices are provided to secure the top plate to the posts 15 and 16. Thus said posts are provided with slots 48 in the sides thereof and longitudinal bores 49, as shown best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 2b. Rods 50 are rotatable in the bores 49 and have pins 51 extending radially therefrom and into the slots 48 so that in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pins 51 overlie the adjacent portions of the plate 23 to hold it in place. When the rods 5d are rotated ninety degrees the pins 51 swing entirely into the slots 48 and the plate 23 may be disengaged from the pins 15 and 16 and swung to the dot-dash position of FIG. 2. Radial slots 51 are provided in the pins 15 and 16 as shown in FIGS. 2b and 3 for pin 15, and springs 51" are located in the bores 49 to urge the rods 50 outwardly of their bores and the pins 51 into the slots 51', to provide a detent action for the rods in their locking positions.

To facilitate the swinging movement of plate 23 just described and also to permit the plate to be rotated from the closed position of FIG. 1 to the open position of FIG. 4, the corner 43 of the plate is provided with a bore 52 (FIGS. 2 and 2a) into which a hardened bushing 53 is pressed. The bushing has a bore 54 providing a loose fit on the reduced portion 55 of the ram post 11 which permits the swinging movement of the plate 23 heretofore described, and also the rotary movement from the closed position to the open position. A pin 56 is pressed into a radial bore 57 in the post 11 and extends downwardly therefrom as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a to retain the plate on the post.

To assist an operator in determining the amount of bend placed in a pipe, the pipe supports 36 and 37 are provided with scales 60 marked in angular degrees. Pointers 61 carried on the corners of the plate 23 cooperate to indicate the angular movements of the pipe supports from the zero positions shown in FIG. 1, wherein a straight pipe P is positioned in the grooves 38, to the angular positions of the pipe supports shown in FIG. 4 upon completion of a bending operation. (The relative positions of the pointers 61 are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4.) The sum of the angles indicated on the two scales in FIG. 4, is the degree of angular bend placed upon the pipe P.

To enhance the portability of the bender as shown, the ram 29 may be swung from its operative or extended position as shown in full lines in FIG. 1, to the dot-dash line inoperative or folded position. In the operative position a locating plunger 70 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 3a), slidably supported in a bore 71 in the ram post 11, is pressed outwardly of the bore by a spring 72 so that the plunger extends into a hole 73 in the plate 10, thus locating and locking the ram in this position. The outward movement of the plunger is limited by a screw device 74, the inner end of which extends into a longitudinal slot 75 on the adjacent surface of the plunger.

By pressing the plunger 70 to disengage it from the hole 73, the ram may be swung to its folded or out of the way position in which the plunger enters a second hole 76 in the plate 10 to retain the ram in its folded position.

With the ram 29 in its folded position as shown by dotdash lines in FIG. 1, the pipe bender is readily, portable. When it is to be used, the plunger 70 is pressed to release it from the hole 76 in the frame plate 10, after which the ram is swung to the full line position shown in the drawings. Then, with the top plate released from the pins and 16 and swung and rotated to the position shown in FIG. 4, a straight pipe may readily be inserted against the pipe support members 36 and 37 or in the position shown in FIG. 1 with the frame closed. The engagement of the pipe in the grooves 38 of the pipe support members rot-ates the pipe support members to the position shown in FIG. 1. The top plate 23 is then swung to the closed position shown in FIG. 1, and the bushings 45 fitted over the pins 15 and 16, whereupon the locking device pins 51 are swung to the positions shown in FIG. 1. With the top plate in its closed position, the pointers 61 point to the zero degree marks on the scales.

Thereafter, by admitting fluid under pressure from a suitable source (not shown) to an entrance conduit 80 for the ram, the ram plunger 31 and the bending shoe 34 carried thereby are moved upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 4. During such a bending operation the scales 60 of the indicating devices rotate with the pipe support members, with the result that the pointers indicate 15 on each scale. Thus, the pipe has been given a 30 angle bend.

If a pipe is given a bend by a single operation of the ram from a straight condition to a bent condition, the indicating devices generally show the same angle for each pipe support member movement. If, however, the pipe inserted in the pipe bender is subjected to several bending operations, generally with in between movements laterally through the press, the indicating devices may show different degrees of movement which, however, when added together will indicate the total angle of bend in the pipe.

Upon completion of a bending operation, the locking device rods 50 are turned to withdraw the pins 51 into the slots 48, after which the top plate 23 may be swung outwardly to the dot-dash line position of FIG. 2, after which it is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 4, the ram first having been disconnected to withdraw the bending shoe 34 to its initial position shown in the drawings by means of a spring 81. By thus opening the frame of the pipe bender, the bent pipe may readily be removed and, if desired, another pipe inserted for subsequent operations.

Upon completing a bending operation and reclosing the top plate, the operator may readily swing the ram 29 from the full line position to the dot-dash line position of FIG. 1 by first depressing the plunger 70 to disengage it from the hole 7 3 in the plate 10 and thereafter permitting the plunger to engage in the hole 76. This folds the ram into its position between the plates of the frame and permits the pipe bender to be readily transported.

I claim:

1. A pipe bender having, in combination, a frame comprising a first generally triangular plate having a ram post mounted on one corner thereof perpendicular to the plate and having a cylindrical bearing portion adjacent its free end, a ram secured to said ram post and extending therefrom and having a plunger extending through the post, a bending shoe on the plunger, a pair of pins positioned equidistant from said ram post adjacent the other corners of the plate and fixed thereon perpendicular thereto, rotatable pipe supporting members on said pins, a triangular top plate having a hole at one corner thereof forming a loose pivotal connection with the cylindrical bearing portion of the ram post and having holes adjacent the other corners thereof for connecting the top plate with said pins, means on the free end of the ram post for retaining the top plate connected thereto and permitting tilting thereof to disconnect the other corners of the top plate from said pins and thereafter rotation of the top plate on the ram post to give access to the first plate and bending shoe, and means for securing said top plate to said p 2. A pipe bender as defined in claim 1 having a pair of angle indicating devices, one carried by each one of said pipe support members and operable to indicate the angular rotation of said members from the positions they assume when a straight piece of pipe is positioned thereagainst to the poistions assumed by said members after a pipe bending operation.

3. A pipe bender having, in combination, a frame comprising a first plate having a ram post pivotally mounted thereon and perpendicular to the plate, a ram secured to said ram post and extending radially therefrom and having a plunger extending through the post, a bending shoe on the plunger, a pair of pipe supporting members positioned equidistant from said ram post and rotatably secured to said first plate and perpendicular thereto, a top plate having a bushing surrounding a hole at one corner thereof forming a loose pivotal and swingable connection with the ram post, and means forming detachable connections between said top plate and said pipe supporting members.

4. A pipe bender having, in combination, a frame comprising a first plate having a ram post mounted thereon perpendicular to the plate and provided with a reduced portion forming a cylindrical bearing at its free end, a ram secured to said ram post and extending therefrom and having a plunger extending through the post, a bending shoe on the plunger, a pair of pins spaced from said ram post on the plate and perpendicular thereto, pipe supporting members on said pins, a top plate having a hole therein forming a loose pivotal connection with the cylindrical bearing portion of the ram post and having a pair of holes for connecting the top plate with said pins, the cylindrical bearing on the ram post being longer than the thickness of the top plate, means for securing said top plate to said pins, and means for retaining the top plate on the ram post permitting tilting of the top plate on the ram post to disengage the top plate from said pins, and rotary movement of the top plate to give access to the bending shoe.

5. A pipe bender as defined in claim 3 having a pair of indicating devices, one carried by each one of said pipe support members and operable to indicate the angular rotation of said members from the positions they assume when a straight piece of pipe is positioned thereagainst to the positions assumed by said members after a pipe bending operation.

6. A pipe bender having, in combination, a frame comprising a first plate having a ram post rotatably mounted thereon perpendicular to the plate, a ram secured to said ram post and extending therefrom and having a plunger extending through the post, a bending shoe on the plunger, a pair of pins positioned on said plate equidistant from said ram post and perpendicular thereto, rotatable pipe supporting members on said pins, a top plate, means for securing said top plate to said pins and ram post in a position parallel to said first plate, and means for securing the ram post in its operative position with the ram extending fro-m said plates and alternatively with the ram in a folded position between the plates.

7. A pipe bender having, in combination, a frame comprising a first generally triangular plate having a ram post mounted on one corner thereof and perpendicular to the plate, a ram secured to said ram post and extending therefrom and having a plunger extending through the post, a bending shoe on the plunger, a pair of pins positioned equidistant from said ram post adjacent the other corners of the plate and perpendicular thereto, pipe supporting members on said pins, a triangular top plate having a hole therein forming a loose pivotal connection with the ram post and having a pair of holes for connecting the top plate with said pins, means for securing said top plate to said pins and ram post and in spaced parallel relationship to said first triangular plate, and detent means for securing the ram post in its operative position extending from said plates and alternatively in a folded position between the plates.

(References on following page) 5 5 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS ,9 4 -1/ 1953 Belgium. 2 867 261 1/1959 T 72 389 1,026,157 3/1958 Germany.

raupm ann 2 71 9 2 1959 Flessata 72 3 1 5 CHARLES LANHAM, Exammer- 2,938,564 5/ 1960 Rhodes 72383 L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PIPE BENDER HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME COMPRISING A FIRST GENERALLY TRIANGULAR PLATE HAVING A RAM POST MOUNTED ON ONE CORNER THEREOF PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLATE AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BEARING PORTION ADJACENT ITS FREE END, A RAM SECURED TO SAID RAM POST AND EXTENDING THEREFROM AND HAVING A PLUNGER EXTENDING THROUGH THE POST, A BENDING SHOE ON THE PLUNGER, A PAIR OF PINS POSITIONED EQUIDISTANT FROM SAID RAM POST ADJACENT THE OTHER CORNERS OF THE PLATE AND FIXED THEREON PERPENDICULAR THERETO, ROTATABLE PIPE SUPPORTING MEMBERS ON SAID PINS, A TRIANGULAR TOP PLATE HAVING A HOLE AT ONE CORNER THEREOF FORMING A 